Monty Don's secret to rose pruning – and why we need to do it before the end of June

Esteemed floricultural expert Monty Don is full of tips that elevate our exteriors across the calendar; however – some of this advice is more timely than others – including his latest pruning tip. 

There are only three days left until the end of June, the month which gardeners, including Monty, instantly associate with roses. The bloom is June’s birth flower, after all. 

However, with the conclusion of the month comes the end of the rose shrubs flowering season, so we need to follow Monty’s invaluable pruning advice at the earliest opportunity if we want our rose garden ideas to fulfill their potential. 

Earlier in the year, Monty shared how to plant roses; in this month's blog, Monty shares his tips – including how to accentuate this flowering season by deadheading your rose shrub for the remainder of the month. This will ensure 'all the energy goes into making as many new blooms as possible rather than converting the pollinated flowers into seed,' he explains. 

This pruning method promotes ‘fresh side shoots which will bear new flower buds and therefore extend the flowering season,’ Monty adds. 

However, there are even more benefits to deadheading roses, as Monty notes that the process ‘increases the chance of repeat-flowering as seed always takes precedence from the plant’s supplies of nutrients and water.’

While simply pulling off old flower heads will improve the shrub, Monty recommends using a pair of secateurs to ‘cut back to the first leaf below the spent flower.’ This will encourage a new shoot to grow at this point. 

‘Of course, some roses, especially the species bushes, have glorious hips in autumn, and these will only develop if the flowers are allowed to set seed and fruit, so enjoy the flowers as long as they last and then wait for the autumnal display that they will produce from their fruit,’ Monty adds. 

He encourages us to deadhead our roses at least once a week, but we should aim to prune daily in mid-summer – while going a step further and taking rose cuttings is something you might like to look into if you're keen to propagate your favorite blooms around the garden. 

The celebrated presenter also revealed that he has over 50 diverse roses in the Cottage Garden at his famous Longmeadow home. So, we’re rushing to bring Monty’s expertise into our own gardens – even if we are racing against the clock.